This Sunday, 7 January, marked the start of the MR's traditional New Year's tour. The occasion for the liberals to travel across all the Walloon provinces and Brussels over the course of a week, until 14 January. The launch of the 2024 New Year's edition took place right in the heart of Walloon Brabant, in Louvain-la-Neuve. The occasion for the MR President, Georges-Louis Bouchez, to announce the names of the various lead candidates daily, according to province. A look back at these announcements.
This opening congress was an opportunity for various liberal and European representatives to look back on the upcoming election year and the issues at stake. For this purpose, the Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Grand Duchy was present, Xavier Bettel. Alongside our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hadja Lahbib, the Jeunes MR, and also the chairman of the provincial federation and group leader in the Walloon Parliament, Jean-Paul Wahl.
Walloon Brabant
During the MR President's closing speech, Georges-Louis Bouchez took the opportunity to announce the various lead candidates:
Florence Reuter and Mathieu Michel, first and second respectively on the federal list in Walloon Brabant, finishing with Valérie De Bue, lead candidate for the Region in Walloon Brabant.
Province of Namur
This Monday, 8 January, the tour stopped in the province of Namur, in La Bruyère.
During his closing speech, MR President Georges-Louis Bouchez, alongside the chairman of the provincial federation and Deputy Prime Minister David Clarinval, took the opportunity to announce the various lead candidates:
David Clarinval, current Deputy Prime Minister, will be the lead candidate for the federal list in Namur. The second effective place is held by
Charlotte Deborsu, currently alderwoman for Population and Living Environment of the City of Namur. The mayor of Cerfontaine and federal MP
Christophe Bombled is the first substitute.
Richard Fournaux (South Region), former mayor of Dinant, and
Vincent Maillen (North Region) are in turn the lead candidates for the regional lists.
Valérie Warzée Caverenne (south region), mayor of Hamois, and
Stéphanie Thoron (north region), mayor of Jemeppe-sur-Sambre, will hold the second effective places to work in tandem with the lead candidates for electoral success.
Province of Liège
This Tuesday, 9 January, the tour stopped in the province of Liège, in Herve.
During his closing speech, MR President Georges-Louis Bouchez, alongside the chairman of the provincial federation and Minister-President of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation Pierre-Yves Jeholet, took the opportunity to announce the various lead candidates:
Federal
- Pierre-Yves Jeholet will be the lead candidate for the federal level, Catherine Delcourt will hold second place and Philippe Goffin will be third on this list. The first substitute place goes to Mathieu Bihet. Daniel Bacquelaine will be the list's pusher.
Regional
- For the Verviers district, Charles Gardier will lead the list, Christine Mauel will be second. Stéphanie Cortisse will hold the first substitute place.
- For the Liège district, Diana Nikolic will be the lead candidate, Philippe Dodrimont will be second on the list.
- Finally, for the Huy-Waremme district, it is the duo of Caroline Cassart as lead candidate and Manu Douette as second who will lead the list.
Brussels
During his closing speech, MR President Georges-Louis Bouchez took the opportunity to announce the various lead candidates: Sophie Wilmès will be the federal lead candidate for Brussels. The second effective place will be held by Michel De Maegd.
For the Region, David Leisterh, Brussels MP and MR group leader in Brussels, will be the lead candidate. Hadja Lahbib, current Minister of Foreign Affairs, will hold second place.
German-speaking Community
For the parliament of the German-speaking Community, Gregor Freches, current senator and PFF chairman, will hold first place, with Evelyn Jadin, current MP in the parliament of the German-speaking Community, in second place.
For Europe, Sacha Brandt will be the lead candidate.
Luxembourg
During his closing speech, MR President Georges-Louis Bouchez, alongside the chairman of the provincial federation, Benoit Piedboeuf, took the opportunity to announce the various lead candidates: Benoit Piedboeuf will be the lead candidate in Luxembourg for the Chamber, his first substitute will be Mathieu Rossignol. In second effective place at federal level will be Laurence Crucifix.
For the Region, Willy Borsus will be the lead candidate, his first substitute is none other than Thierry Neyens. Anne Laffut will hold second place, and the third effective place on the regional list goes to Yves Evrard.
Province of Hainaut
During his closing speech, MR President Georges-Louis Bouchez, alongside the chairman of the provincial federation Denis Ducarme, took the opportunity to announce the various lead candidates: Georges-Louis Bouchez will be the lead candidate for the federal list in Hainaut. The second effective place will be held by Julie Taton. Denis Ducarme will in turn be third on this federal list.
For the region, in the Charleroi district, Adrien Dolimont will be the lead candidate. Second on the list is none other than Caroline Taquin. The first and second substitutes are, respectively, Nicolas Tzanetatos and Rachel Sobry.
For the region, in the Mons-Borinage district, the lead candidate will be Jacqueline Galant.
For the Centre district, Maxime Daye will hold first place. Bénédicte Poll will be second.
Finally, for the Wallonie-Picarde district, Marie-Christine Marghem will hold first place, Vincent Palermo will be second.
